Chain-smoking children: Indonesia’s ongoing tobacco epidemic

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Aldi Suganda, now 8, has recovered from a smoking and eating addiction

Millions of Indonesian children ages 10 to 18 continue to smoke, putting their health at risk

But this boy has a tumultuous past and a reputation that precedes him, having undergone a recovery most children will never face.

Six years ago, Aldi Suganda, also known as Aldi Rizal, was a 2-year-old chain smoker addicted to cigarettes, smoking packs each day. “It was hard for me to stop,” he said. “If I am not smoking, my mouth taste is sour and my head feel dizzy.